Potato-cutter



(no Modelf) r L. STERNBERG.

POTATO CUTTER.

No. 573,551. Patented-Dec. 22, 1896.

EXMWH mw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAMBERT STERNBERG, OF MITOHELLVILLE, IOWA.

POTATO-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,551, dated December 22, 1896.

Application filedJuly 26, 1895.

To all who/2L 2'25 may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAMBERT STERNBERG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Hitchellville, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented an Improved Potato-Cutter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a portable machine adapted to be operated by means of a treadle, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of themachine, showing the operative parts in their normal positions. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the cutting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the springactuated blocks adapted to serve as a guide in directing potatoes relative to the cutters. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the detachable cutters.

The letter A designates a bench having an opening near one end adapted for retaining the spring-actuated blocks, The central portion of the bench is adapted for a person to be seated astride thereon to face the opening in the bench and the operating mechanism mounted on the bench.

B is a quadrangular frame fixed to the bench in close proximity to the opening therein.

0 are blocks, preferably made of wood, adapted in shape to be hinged to the top edge of the opening in the bench, by means of strap-hinges, in such a manner that they will jointly produce a tapering cavity for the reception and retention of a potato.

D are springs fixed to the bottom of the bench to engage the lower ends of the blocks 0, as required to normally retain the blocks in converging positions, as required to prevent a potato from passing down between the lower ends of the blocks.

F are V-shaped cutters having a cutting edge extending from one end to the other and provided with perforated cars it at their top ends and adapted to be detachably fixed to the bottom of the bench in such a manner that their converging lower ends will be in concentric position relative to the spring-actuated blocks 0, as required to quarter a potato by pressing it upon the cutters.

J is a plunger mounted in the frame 13 and provided with slots adapted to allow the cutters F to enter, so that the plunger can descend far enough relative to the cutters to Serial No. 557,278. (No model.)

press a potato down to be cut into pieces and the pieces pushed down between the cutters. On the stem of the plunger is fixed a rack K to be engaged byapinion L on a shaft M, fitted in bearings in the frame B.

N is a coil-spring fixed to the top of the plunger-stem and the top of the frame B to normally retain the plunger J in elevated position relative to the bench.

Pis a pulley on the end of the shaft M and connected with a treadle R, pivoted to the legs of the bench by means of a cord S, as shown in Fig. 1, and in such a manner that a person seated astride of the bench can readily place potatoes in the opening or pocket produced by the spring-actuated block 0 and then force the plunger down by foot-power applied to the treadle to thereby cut potatoes successively into pieces for planting.

The practical operation and utility of my invention for preparing seed-potatoes is therefore obvious.

When it is desired to cut potatoes into halves in place of quarters, I remove one of the detachable cutters F.

I claim as my invention- 1. A portable potato-cutter comprising a bench having an opening near one end, blocks hinged in said opening, cutters fastened to the bench in concentric position s to said opening and blocks, a plunger mounted above the bench and provided with a rack, which plunger is arranged for vertical longitudinal reciprocation through the opening in the bench, a shaft, a gear on said shaft meshing with the rack on the plunger, and a pedal mechanism for rotating said shaft to reciprocate said plunger.

2. A portable potato-cutter comprising a bench having an opening near an end, springactuated blocks hinged in said opening, V- shaped cutters detachably fastened to the bench in concentric position to said opening and cutters, a plunger mounted in the frame and pro vided with a pinion to engage the rack and a pulley on its end and a treadle pivoted to the legs of the bench and connected with the pulley on the end of said shaft, all arranged and combined to be operated in the manner set forth.

LAMBERT STERNBERG.

lVitnesses RosE STERNBERG, THOMAS G. ORWIG. 

